Methods of operating washing machines and washing machines using the same

Abstract

Example methods of determining the degree of satellization of laundry articles against an inner wall of a drum of a laundry treating appliance are disclosed. An example method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment, and a motor rotating the drum includes increasing the rotational speed of the drum by increasing the rotational speed of the motor, and detecting when a parameter signal representing the rotation of the drum reaches substantially a minimum to determine the speed at which substantially all of the laundry is satellized.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment, and a motor rotating the drum, the method comprising:
 increasing the rotational speed of the drum by increasing the rotational speed of the motor; and   detecting when a parameter signal representing the rotation of the drum reaches substantially a minimum to determine the speed at which substantially all of the laundry is satellized.   
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the parameter signal represents the energy of the motor. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the parameter signal represents at least one of a motor torque and/or a motor power. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein detecting when the parameter signal reaches substantially the minimum comprises monitoring a low frequency component of the parameter signal. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising filtering the parameter signal to substantially remove a high frequency component. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising after the minimum is detected, waiting a predetermined time, and detecting whether another minimum is found after detecting a maximum. 
     
     
         18 . A laundry treating appliance comprising:
 a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment;   a motor rotating the drum; and   a control unit programmed to, at least, increase the rotational speed of the drum by increasing the rotational speed of the motor, and detect when a parameter signal representing the rotation of the drum reaches substantially a minimum to determine the speed at which substantially all of the laundry is satellized.   
     
     
         19 . A laundry treating appliance as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the parameter signal represents the energy of the motor. 
     
     
         20 . A laundry treating appliance as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the parameter signal represents at least one of a motor torque and/or a motor power. 
     
     
         21 . A laundry treating appliance as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the control unit is programmed to detect when the parameter signal reaches substantially the minimum by monitoring a low frequency component of the parameter signal. 
     
     
         22 . A laundry treating appliance as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the control unit is programmed to filter the parameter signal to substantially remove a high frequency component. 
     
     
         23 . A laundry treating appliance as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the control unit is programmed to, after the minimum is detected, wait a predetermined time, and detect whether another minimum is found after detecting a maximum.